Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste

On May 17, 1892, Remi Vander Ghinste bought a house with a brewery in Bellegem for his son Omer Vander Ghinste. It produces “Ouden tripel”, the current “Vanderghinste Rood Bruin”.

To promote his beers, Omer Vander Ghinste had the inscription 'Beers Omer Vander Ghinste' applied to stained glass windows on the café facades. A smart move, with an unexpected effect.

In 1900 he married Marguerite Vandamme, the granddaughter of Felix Verbreeke, owner of Brasserie LeFort aan het Plein in Kortrijk. They have a son Omer(2).

By choosing the same name, the expensive stained glass windows do not have to be replaced when the next generation takes over the brewery. This is the start of a family tradition in which the brewery is always led by an Omer.

In 1911, Felix Verschuere dies and Marguerite inherits Brasserie LeFort. The brewing activities are stopped and transferred to Bellegem. During the First World War, Omer flees to Paris. He stays on the Rue Des Jacobins, where he got inspiration for the beer 'Cuvée Des Jacobins', a 100% foeder beer.

In 1929, Marguerite sold all her possessions to build a modern brewery.

In 1933, Omer (3) was born. At the start of the golden sixties he will take over the management of the brewery from his father.

Shortly after the Second World War, a new brewery was set up to meet the increasing demand for Bockor Pils.

Omer Jean Vander Ghinste (4) was born in 1964. Due to the great success of Bockor Pils, it was decided in 1977 to change the name of the brewery to Brouwerij Bockor.

Omer Géry Vander Ghinste (5) was born in 1993. The family tradition is still continued, the fifth generation is ready!

In the early 2000s, the brewery launched Kriek Max to join the boom in fruit beers.

At the end of 2008, the brewery introduced a new top-fermented beer: OMER and, 5 years later, LeFort.

To highlight the rich family history of the brewery, Bockor Brewery was renamed Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste in 2014.